If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

World Famous Dr Pepper Wash Technique (Pat Pend)

I posted this to the Infopop forum many years ago to go along with the World Famous Dr Pepper Technique [Pat Pend] Unfortunatly, most hyper links no longer work on that forum as it slowly deteriorates so it is now almost impossible to find this thread in the archives.

I have described this method of washing several times in other posts, but can never find it when I want it.

This is a simple nearly foolproof method for washing small test batches of biodiesel and I have often washed a sample of biodiesel in less than an hour using this method.

Be aware that Unwashed biodiesel contains soap. If you aggitate your first few washes hard/violently, there is a real likelyhood that
the water, soap, and biodiesel will form an emulsion that may take days or weeks to seperate.

The three important steps in washing are GENTLY GENTLY GENTLY to begin with.

THE TECHNIQUE:

Pour 1 litre biodiesel into a 2 litre Dr Pepper bottle.
Gently pour about 500ml body temp water into bottle.
Replace non leaky top.
GENTLY rotate bottle end for end for about 30 seconds.
After 30 seconds place bottle upright.
If you have been GENTLE the water and Biodiesel will seperate immediatly.
You will notice the water is not clear.
Remove top and using your thumb as a stopper, turn bottle upsidedown and while squeezing in on the sides of the bottle so that no air can be drawn back into the bottle through the liquid, drain the water using your thumb as a valve.
When water is drained, turn the bottle back up-right and allow the bottle to regain it's original shape.
You have finished wash one.

Wash Two:
Pour in another 500ml water and repeat wash one, except rotate GENTLY for about 1 minute.
Drain as in wash one.
You have finished wash 2.

Wash three:
Again pour in another 500ml water and GENTLY GENTLY GENTLY shake bottle for a minute or so.
When water and biodiesel seperate discard water in same fashion as before.

Wash four:
Another 500ml water and a bit more aggitation for about 1 min.
After seperation of water and biodiesel Drain as above.

Wash 5
You should now be able shake fairly vigerously.

Washing is finished when after shaking, water is nearly clear.
Be aware that in your later washes you should be able to shake violently. The water and oil will take longer to seperate because the water forms tiny bubles in the biodiesel that take time to settle out.

Washed biodiesel is VERY CLOUDY, much lighter in colour than the origional biodiesel, often looking like Orange juice.After a day or 3 settling and drying in the sun with the top off, it will clear.

Remember, after you have produced in excess of 53,487 litres of biodiesel in any calander year, using the World Famous Dr Pepper Technique (Pat Pend) Royalties are due.
Make cheques out to Tilly From Paradise and send to me through your favourite Numbered Swiss Bank Account.